Tuesday, March 11, 2014

3/3/14

Hola familia!

His week was a week of miracles. I can't even get over how amazing itwas. I am so blessed to be a part of this gospel and such an amazingwork. I just love it!

For starters, it rained so hard this week! That was my first bigtestimony builder of fasting this week. Bringing back what I talkedabout a little while ago, the First Presidency issued an invite to allthe members here in California to fast and pray for rain, and sureenough, these last three days was more rain combined than all of lastyear. I had to check my location! I thought I was in Arizona. It wasraining SO hard at some points. I was driving and literally could notgo faster than 20 mph with the windshield wipers on full blast. It wasawesome! I loved it, and I'm so sad that it is gone now... Hopefullyit happens again soon. Definitely the hardest I have ever seen it rainhere, and it was more than enough to get California out of the biggestdrought ever recorded. Prayer and fasting works. Miracle #1.

Now for Miracle #2. The Sunday before last, I had the privilege toconfirm Elvia a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a blessing it isto watch this family take steps towards being an eternal family. :) Ihave never done a confirmation before, but I believe it went well.They have a lot ahead if them, and I am amazed at the miracle that hashappened in that family for her to go from wanting nothing to do withthe Church to accepting the invitation and receiving a testimony ofher own. It's incredible, and I a, so happy that Hno Chavez now hasthe ability to be with his companion for all eternity.

Miracle #3. This was another one of those moments when I can't reallyeven describe in words the feelings I felt. To give a littleforeshadowing, this moment was very similar to that of Roberto andElvia. However, this miracle may have been one of (if not THE)greatest turning points in my testimony and certainly in my mission.Claudia Chavez. I, personally, have been trying to work with her forjust about 9 months now, and at the beginning, she didn't even want tolisten to us. Over time, she relaxed a little more and we didn't findourselves in gospel debates anymore. Little by little, she actuallystarted to understand that we are here to help solve doubts ratherthan add to her confusion. We've recently been meeting with herregularly. She started to show a lot more interest as her mom did aswell. After a few weeks, her Mom pulled ahead a little more becauseshe was having trouble juggling all that was going on in her life-school, work, etc. Elvia was baptized, as you know, and it's been anexcellent example to Claudia. Claudia had so many doubts and little bylittle we are resolving them. Now the main miracle took placeyesterday, and I literally get chills thinking about it. There's notdoubt that God is there listening.

Saturday night we had an extra special lesson with her. We talked toher about recognizing the Spirit because we have pretty much taughther everything besides the 10 commandments, which she definitelyalready knows, so we had reached a barrier. She needed her answer tocontinue. We got through the lesson and after a really spiritualdiscussion and answering even more of her doubts, I was impressed topromise her that the next day she would receive her answer. Not goingto lie...it was a little nerve-racking! Don't get me wrong, I hadcomplete faith that she would, but the words coming out of my moutheven caught me off guard along with everyone else in the room. It wasa very strong promise to make. She has been telling us that she hasbeen waiting for so long now for that sure answer. So the promise wasextended, and we talked about how it will be fast Sunday so we willall be fasting and praying for her, and she said she would do thesame. The next day, she came to Church and we started the day with theSpirit of Revelation video by Elder Bednar. It really set the mood, sowe went to testimony meeting. Through testimony meeting, they were sowell focused towards doubts that she had. It was really good! Thenthey closed with her favorite song "Nearer, My God, to Thee." DuringGospel Principles, another doubt of her's was answered about theCreation. She had to leave early, but she said before she left. "I'mstarting to be convinced." We could tell the Spirit was really workingin her. Sorry this story is going to be really long. It was just allso great! And since I don't write in my journal....this will have todo. Ha

Now this should be the climax of the story (hope it's notanti-climatic...). We had a lesson planned for her for Thursday, butwe knew we couldn't wait until Thursday to visit her after a day asimportant as yesterday, so we asked if we could stop by last night tosee how the day felt and invited her to thinking about what she hasfelt and was feeling. We stopped by last night and talked to her abouthow her day went. It was a good lesson and she shared her thoughts onit all and again, the Spirit was so strong. We could feel she was soclose to receiving her answer. After another wonderful lesson with herdad, we got back to the barrier again. She didn't feel she had reallyreceived her answer yet, so we were wrapping it up and inviting her topray about it all, and right in the middle of that invite, she stoppedus.

She picked up her Bible and read a scripture in Ephesians 4, andretread it a few times. She looked at us, and said, "dice 'laverdad.'" "It says, 'the truth.'" She had the biggest smile on herface, and explained that just then she was flipping through herscriptures and praying in her heart that He would give her an answer.She felt prompted to stop and read, and that's when she read aboutchanging her life to be on the path of The Lord- the oath if thetruth. The Spirit was so intense as she said, "I've received myanswer." As she said that, her dad, Hno Chavez, buried his face in hishands and just started to bawl. It was so touching to see as she wentto comfort him, and we was just so happy that she finally received heranswer. He has been waiting for this day for a LONG time. He knew hiswife would join eventually, but he knew it would be so hard withClaudia because she had always been so stubborn to listen. After all,she finally received her answer. God had heard the prayers andaccepted the fasts of all us that were praying and fasting for her toreceive it. At the very end of the night, she got it, turned to us andtold us she knows now. She explained how she knew her answer wouldcome through the Bible. Not that she didn't believe in the otherscriptures- she just loves the Bible and knew that God knew that. Itwas such an amazing experience, and I just wish that everyone could bethere for it. Her faith his so strong, and I know without a doubt thatGod heard our prayers and accepting our offering of fasting to Him. Wewere impressed to invite her to be baptized this next Sunday, andafter a little bit of discussing and planning, she accepted. She willbe baptized this Sunday.

My heart is filled with joy today as I think back over all that familyhas been through. He had made such remarkable changes in his life 5years ago, and he never left it. He has always been that amazingexample. His wife now is with him, and his daughter, too, is followingthe Savior to be with her family for forever. I know without a doubtthat God hears our prayers. I have an even stronger testimony now ofthe power of fasting. I needed this moment to change my own heart, andfor that reason, I am grateful to God for the chance I have had to bea part of it. Their loves are changing, and as they do, so is mine. Iam so grateful for this mission. It has changed my life. I feel likeAmmon from the Book of Mormon right now. As I boast to everyone aboutthese amazing experiences that are happening, I do not boast in my ownstrength or my own efforts, because I know that I cannot do it alone,but rather I boast in the power and miracles of God, who has madethese blessings possible to His children. This work cannot NOT betrue. The miracles that I have seen just strengthen more and more mycertainty that this is the Church of Jesus Christ restored again tothe earth with His perfect doctrine. As we drove home last night, shesent us a message thanking us for caring for her family and helpingthem back to God. The mission can change your life. If you're evenquestioning it, don't. Just do it, and you will never regret it.

Please continue to keep Claudia in your prayers that all goes wellthis week as we prepare for her baptism. Sorry this is so long, but Ihope it's not too boring. Love you all so much and hope you find thesame joy I do in this marvelous work and a wonder. Take care, you'realways in my prayers. This Church is true. If you haven't already, putit to the test, and God will answer you. I am a witness of that, and Itestify of it in the name if Jesus Christ, amen.

-Elder Gallego

"Knowing that God knows each individual personally is like a lightthat illuminates one's life and gives it meaning." Bishop GeraldCausse

P.S. Some pics from last week. Couldn't figure out how to get the picsfrom my personal camera into here, so I took them off the screen of mycamera. Ha sorry for the poor quality!